On a day when the sun was shining brightly and the skies over Camelot were blue, Arthur was taking a walk with Merlin around Camelot, venturing out slightly further than he'd been before. Each day Merlin had been watching him become more and more like the Arthur he knew, but he was just about to find out exactly how much he was his old self again. Arthur's left arm was in a sling, with some fingers of that hand strapped up, as there had, of course, been some injuries which only came to light when Arthur had awoken from his sleep.

The two young men walked together across the drawbridge, and on the grass beside the walls of the citadel, the knights were practising their swordsmanship. When they caught sight of Arthur, they stopped and waited as he and Merlin walked over to them, and all were pleased to see the improvement in the prince's condition. Arthur gave them all a nod of acknowledgement as he approached, and they returned it. There was a moment's silence as Arthur looked around at his faithful knights whom he also counted as friends. "I know that I haven't said it properly yet, but I wanted to thank you once again for your loyalty…. and your help. I know that without them I would not be standing here today."

Gwaine, who was never one for serious speeches, replied with his characteristic note of light-hearted sarcasm in his voice to Arthur. "Well, you trained us so well, your Royal Highness, we needed a chance to put it into practice."

There was a wry smile on Arthur's face and he gave as good as he got. "I would take that as a compliment Gwaine if I believed for a moment there was a ounce of sincerity in what you just said!" but everyone was grinning at the exchange.

Gwaine, however, decided that this was a good moment to goad Arthur even more, as he looked at the prince's arm. "And I suppose you're concerned that you're going to be finding it even harder not to be beaten by me now that your arm's been injured and all."

This was too much for Arthur who rose to the baiting with a look of the old arrogance on his face. "I can still beat you, Gwaine, even like this. Give me a sword."

Merlin just looked at the prince with a look of complete exasperation on his face, not quite believing what he was hearing. "Sire, is that really such a good idea…? You're meant to be resting!"

Arthur was indeed very much back to his old self. "Oh Merlin, don't be such a girl! Stop nagging!"

Merlin gave up, threw up his hands in disbelief, and shook his head. Arthur turned to Leon, who was slightly more used to the impetuous side of Arthur than the others, and held out his good hand for his sword, and Leon duly obliged. And as Arthur and Gwaine started trading blows with their swords, it was apparent that - despite Arthur's injuries - the two of them were still evenly matched.

What Arthur didn't see, however, was Gwen marching purposefully up the grass behind him towards them all. As she looked up, she caught Lancelot's eye. He looked away hurriedly and she understood. And although Arthur may not have seen Gwen, Gwaine suddenly did, and was momentarily distracted, which gave Arthur the perfect opportunity to knock the sword out of his hand. The prince's triumph was short-lived, however, as a voice rang out behind him.

"Arthur Pendragon!"

Arthur wheeled round to find himself facing a stern Gwen, and the look of triumph disappeared in an instant from his face, to be replaced by an unmistakeable look of guilt. He and the others were just about to find out how formidable Gwen could be, not afraid to take on the knights of Camelot – or its prince.

"WHAT do you think you are doing?"

Arthur, who sometimes lacked Merlin's ability to think on his feet – and lie – was clearing clutching at straws. "I, er….. was, um… just getting some exercise?"

Gwen raised her eyebrows. "Really?!" Although Gwen tried throughout the exchange with Arthur to maintain her stern exterior, there was also a playfulness and secret enjoyment of it on both sides.

Gwen turned her attention to Merlin next. "And why didn't you stop him?"

Arthur couldn't fail to notice the rather pleased look on Merlin's face as her answered her. "I tried to. He wouldn't listen to me."

Gwen was just beginning to get into her stride. "Well… maybe he should start listening to his servant more, as his servant clearly has far more sense than the prince does."

By this time, the knights were clearly enjoying the sight of Arthur being told off by Gwen, although they tried not to make their laughter too obvious. Gwaine, however, cared less about hiding his enjoyment of it, until, that is, Gwen caught sight of him smirking.

"And you can wipe that grin of your face, Gwaine - you're almost as bad."

Gwaine tried but failed to look chastened, and found it difficult not to laugh as he bowed his head slightly and replied, "Yes, my lady."

It was now Arthur's turn to smirk at Gwaine, but he immediately tried to look serious as Gwen turned her attention back to him. She folded her arms as she looked at him. "And what do you have to say for yourself?"

Arthur decided that he should at least try to regain some shred of dignity in the encounter. "Well…. as prince I do have the right to make my own decisions on these matters."

Gwen, who knew she could now bring out her trump card said, with a note of mock surprise in her voice, "Oh really? Well…. if you remember: your father – the king – gave me the responsibility for looking after you. So I'm afraid, Arthur Pendragon, that until you are completely well again, you have to do exactly what I tell you. And you are coming with me, as you clearly can't be trusted to look after yourself!"

Arthur admitted defeat and shrugged his shoulders and, like Gwaine, tried his best to look chastened. As Gwen and Arthur walked away, the knights gave up trying to conceal their laughter, and laughed out loud, but as the couple walked down the hill, Arthur looked over his shoulder and gave his friends a broad, cheeky grin. And when he was sure they were out of earshot, Gwaine couldn't resist a final jibe: "She'll make him a good wife one day" and Merlin and the knights all laughed again.

As they walked together, Gwen decided to ask Arthur a question that had been on her mind ever since his return. "Arthur?"

He turned his gaze on her as they walk hand in hand, smiled, and waited for her to continue.

She paused. "When you woke the other day, the first thing you said to me was, You kept your promise. What did you mean?"

Arthur looked down for a moment, trying to decide what to say, and then decided to tell her everything, but as he did he kept his gaze fixed in front of him. "When I was having the nightmare - that I was back there - it was as if it was interrupted by….. I don't know…. another dream, which was what brought the nightmare to an end. And you were in the dream – you looked so beautiful…." He broke off, turned to Gwen and smiled, "You still do". He turned his face back forward again. "And you told me to sleep. You said you'd stay with me, and then you promised that you'd be there when I woke….. And you were."

They were both silent and thoughtful for a moment as they walked along.

Gwen turned to look at Arthur. "Merlin asked me to stay with you. He said it would be nice for you if I was there when you woke up. Maybe you somehow heard his words when you were sleeping."

After another moment of silent thoughtfulness, Arthur hesitated before going on.

"The strange thing is, Merlin was in the dream too - but for goodness sake don't tell him that, or he'll be even more insufferable than usual!"

Arthur paused again. "I'd seen him before in another dream too. It's all a bit vague and confused in my mind, and I know this sounds strange, but I think it was him who stopped the nightmare somehow…" Neither of them spoke for a moment, and then Arthur lightened the mood: "…..maybe by returning me to the reality of his annoying presence."

Gwen looked at Arthur again, "You know, you shouldn't give him such a hard time. I know he's just a servant, but servants can be friends too." She smiled at him. "Merlin's been a good friend to you."

"I know. It's strange - he probably knows me and understands me better than anyone, and I value his friendship more than I can say….Not that I'm going to tell him any of that, of course!"

Gwen replied with mock exasperation. "Why is it that you men find it so hard to say anything nice to one another?!"

Arthur shrugged his shoulders playfully. "I guess we just like to leave it to those who do it so much better!" and he leaned over with a grin and kissed her as they walked back across the drawbridge.

When Arthur returned later to his own room, Merlin was sitting at the table polishing his armour. He looked up as Arthur walked in, and gave him his best 'I was right and you were wrong' expression. Arthur was in a good mood, though, and said with a little grin "Shut up, Merlin."

"Didn't say a word!"

"Didn't have to…"

Merlin carried on polishing, also with a grin on his face, and quoted Gwen nonchalantly without looking up: "His servant clearly has far more sense than the prince does"

A cushion came flying across from the other side of the room and hit him, but Merlin grinned again rather than looking annoyed, just pleased that Arthur was back to his old self.

There was a pause, which caused Merlin to glance up at Arthur, who was looking straight at him.

"And I haven't thanked you properly for your help either, Merlin."

"You would have done the same for any of us…"

Merlin looked down again, and continued working on the armour, but a silence hung in the air between them. Merlin stopped what he was doing and looked up again, and was suddenly aware that Arthur was wanting to say something or get something off his chest. He gave Arthur his full attention and waited for him to speak, very aware that he hadn't really spoken of his experiences in the cell. Merlin could see that Arthur was finding it extremely difficult to speak about what was on his mind and was clearly troubling him. He looked down at the ground, wanting to avoid eye contact with Merlin, and he finally began to put his troubled thoughts into words that were quietly spoken.

"It wasn't the pain or even the fear of the pain that was the worst….. "

He paused, and as he did, Merlin suddenly took a sharp intake of breath as understanding dawned on him, remembering the fear he'd sensed in Arthur when he saw him in his first dream.

Arthur continued to look at the ground in silence, struggling to admit what was causing him so much distress, and so Merlin gently completed the sentence for him: "It was the terrible fear that you wouldn't be able to keep holding out, and that you would eventually tell them what they wanted."

Arthur looked up suddenly, incredulous that Merlin had read his darkest, most troubled thoughts. He nodded almost imperceptibly and then looked down at the ground again, and finally confessed what he felt ashamed of: "And I think I would have if you hadn't come for me."

Merlin thought for a moment, searching for the words that would set Arthur's mind at rest. When he finally spoke, choosing his words carefully, it was gently but firmly, with a kind smile on his face, no longer the servant, but the friend and mentor.

"Arthur - look at me."

Arthur looked up again, but there was a haunted expression on his face, and Merlin knew he longed to be absolved of his misplaced sense of guilt.

"Arthur – you are more courageous than anyone I've ever known. Your care for the people of Camelot and for your friends could not be greater. And I know that you would willingly lay down your life for your people a thousand times over. I'm not sure there's another person alive who would have held out for as long as you did. And you held out until we came, and that's all that matters. To admit that you're still human, and that you need the help of others, is not weakness, Arthur - it's a strength. You need that quality now, and you'll need it even more when you are king.

Don't trouble yourself any longer, Arthur. Don't give it another thought."

Merlin watched as the troubled look on Arthur's face began to fade and be replaced by a more peaceful expression. But Merlin felt a little pang in his own heart. "And maybe if we'd come for you sooner, Arthur, the thought would never even have entered your head." And it was Merlin's turn to look down. Arthur replied, with another little wry smile, "You can hardly be blamed for not being able to come sooner!"

Merlin gave a small, non-committal Mmmm and vowed to himself that he would never again doubt his destiny or what lay ahead for both Arthur and himself.

Merlin looked up again, and Arthur finally seemed to be at peace with himself. He also saw the quizzical look form on Arthur's face that he had seen before in these situations. "Do you have a book, or something, Merlin with all these words of wisdom?"

"Well, I certainly don't get them from you!"

The moment had passed and they both laughed, and Merlin couldn't resist continuing. "What was it you said to me, just before Gwen came along to tell you off? Something about me nagging like a girl?"

"Merlin?"

"Yes, Arthur?"

And they both said the words together, "Shut up!"

Author's note: Thanks for reading this - I hope you've enjoyed it! It was originally written as a script 18 months ago just for friends and for fun, and I've just converted it to comply with this wonderful website that a friend introduced me to. I've got 4 more scripts to convert, all the in the same style as this one. "The Best Man" will be next. In the meantime, "The King's Word" (my most recent work, and the only one written straight as a story) has already been posted - but I need to re-jig as I entered it in the wrong format!